CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Harbor Linen as a Green Product Directory partner. Harbor Linen manufactures quality bath linen for the hospitality market. Its Orchid Towel Collection is a unique blend of bamboo and cotton. It is naturally soft and luxurious yet made to endure numerous institutional washings. Bamboo benefits include: Naturally Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Fungal, and Anti-Microbial—reducing odors such as mildew. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the Earth, making it an eco-friendly “green product.” Harbor Linen also offers Microfiber cleaning cloths that help alleviate toxic chemical use. Go to Harbor Linen, write...

GLEN RAVEN, N.C.—Sunbrella, a leader in performance fabrics for more than 40 years, has been certified by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) as a low-emitting product. The Greenguard Certification assures architects, specifiers, building owners and homeowners that they can use Sunbrella fabrics indoors with the confidence that these fabrics will contribute to healthy indoor air. Sunbrella has also received the Greenguard Children & Schools Certification, which requires that products meet even more stringent standards to help limit pollutant exposure in schools and other settings that serve children and other sensitive individuals. The Greenguard Certification Program, an industry independent, third-party testing program...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that former President Bill Clinton will deliver the keynote speech of the opening plenary of Greenbuild, the world’s largest conference and exposition dedicated to green building, to be held Nov. 7-9, 2007, in Chicago. “This is an unprecedented opportunity for our green building community to hear from one of the greatest philanthropic and environmental leaders of this century,” says USGBC President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “The William J. Clinton Foundation is facilitating a series of global action plans that are addressing some of the most intractable problems of our times—AIDS, economic sustainability...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Worldwide, Inc. announced the development of its first wholly-owned aloft and element hotel project in Lexington, Mass. The project—aloft and element Lexington—will breathe new life into the select service and extended stay markets in this vital and energetic suburban community. Both hotels are scheduled to open in late spring of 2008. Just twelve miles outside of Boston, Lexington offers a charming combination of historical sites, farm stands and greenhouses, as well as convenient access to Boston’s thriving business community and leisure attractions. Sharing the same parcel of land, the two hotels will be located...

When first launching Green Lodging News a little more than a year ago, there were just two lodging properties in the United States that had received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)—the Marriott-managed University of Maryland University College Inn and Conference Center, Adelphi, Md., and the Len Foote Hike Inn in Dawsonville, Ga. Since then, three other U.S. properties have obtained LEED certification. Given that there are many hundreds of commercial buildings outside of lodging that have been LEED certified, it would appear that our industry has been late to...

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—Key players in real estate and construction misjudge the costs and benefits of green buildings, creating a major barrier to more energy efficiency in the building sector, a new study by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) reports. Respondents to a 1,400-person global survey estimated the additional cost of building green at 17 percent above conventional construction, more than triple the true cost difference of about 5 percent. At the same time, survey respondents put greenhouse gas emissions by buildings at 19 percent of world total, while the actual number of 40 percent is double this. The findings...

ATLANTA—Decca Hospitality Furnishings announced that it will convert its entire product line of high-end and custom furnishings to new, environmentally conscious green standards by the end of this year. This action reflects a corporate culture at Decca that is mindful of the environment across its business practices, while underscoring the need for all companies to be good stewards of our environment. Decca’s manufacturing operation will be the first in Asia to meet these rigorous environmental standards. The company’s initiative will also ensure that its products contribute points toward the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating systems and the Green Building...

NATIONAL REPORT—If the growth of the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC) is any indication of the current level of interest in sustainable furniture manufacturing, you can expect to read a lot more about this trend in the coming months. The Council, which was incorporated in March, already has 100 members. While the majority of all furniture purchased for lodging in the United States is not sustainable, that appears to be changing—albeit slowly. What exactly is sustainable furniture? It most certainly is not furniture that is made with illegally sourced wood, petroleum-based foams, fabrics and other materials, and finishes and glues that...

MUSCATINE, IOWA—The HON Company has improved upon its popular F3 chair, which represents three elements of comfort—fit, form and function. It is now available in a new material called ilira-stretch. This innovative material features a three-dimensional knit with an open-weave pattern, which allows for enhanced airflow, resulting in a more comfortable sitting experience. The HON Company is the exclusive U.S. furniture manufacturer to offer the unique ilira-stretch fabric in its product line. “The F3 is one of our most popular seating lines, thanks to its inherent comfort, versatility and function,” says Brian Miller, vice president of seating for The HON...

SEATTLE—Callison announced the hiring of Teresa Burrelsman as its new Sustainability Program Leader. She brings expertise as a former green building consultant to the firm’s Sustainable Strategies Team, whose goal is to meet growing client demand for sustainable design expertise and provide clients with buildings and communities that are environmentally resourceful, sustainably developed and enhance quality of life. Leadership for Callison’s Sustainable Strategies Team includes the following individuals: Teresa Burrelsman, LEED AP, Sustainability Program leader—As Program Leader, Teresa is responsible for developing sustainable design programs, strategies and business models throughout each of Callison’s markets. Formerly a senior Green Building...